Protective device for banks



p 1 M. NICHOLAS ET AL. 1,879,427.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR BANKS Filed Jan. 26, 193] 2 ShetsSheet l Z {Z/ I f: 1 26 1'1 4 \H I 3: l

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E E 11 F-f J4 Z1 14 jflaifkew f 'cfioiaa; A tire W ffoZZer, Carlfiedel INVENTORS W i My Trovnuzv P 1932' M. NICHQLAS ET AL. 1,879,427

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR BANKS Filed Jan. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Carffiedel Cfia'rlea'fiuaweymvmm TTORNEYS Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATTHEW NICHOLAS, ANDREW KOLLER, CARL LEDEL, AND CHARLES nussnY, or PASADENA, CALIFORNIA,

IROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR BANKS Application filed January 26, 1931. Serial No. 511,362.

wise any injury to the paying or receiving teller, cashier, or other attendant With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combi nation and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and. claimed.

For a complete understandingof our in: vention, reference is to be had to the following description'and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the device embodying the invention, the view showingthe safety or guard panel in protecting poslti-on.

Figure 2 is a similar vlew illustratlng the protective panel in position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a paying or receiving tellers compartment of a bank or like institution having the usual grated window 2 and counter 3 to which our invention is applied.

Guide elements 3 are arranged at opposite sides of the window 2 between the ceiling and counter 3 and slidably receive a protecting panel or shield 4 and further are pro vided with anti-friction rollers 5 to engage the side edges of the shield or panel to permit the latter to slide upwardly and downwardly with a minimum amount of friction. The counter 3 is provided with a slot 6 to permit the shield or panel 4/00 slide upward av lowered or non-active ly and downwardly and when in its lowermost position is disposed below the counter as clearly shown in Figure 3. y

A substantially bell shaped housing 7 having a base 8 bolted or'otherwise secured to thefloor 9 of the building and the housing includes a pair of sections, one section forming an integral construction of the-base 8 while the other section is detachably connected to the former section by bolts 10- pro viding a construction whereby access may be had'to the interior of the housing when desired. The top wall of the housing 7 is provided with an opening to receive the lower screw-threaded end of a cylinder 11 having a vent opening 12 intermediate the ends thereof. The lower end ,of the cylinder 11 is. clamped in the housing by inner and outer nuts 1.3 and 14 threaded on the cylinder en gaging opposite walls of the housing.

A cartridgechamber 15 is threaded to the lower endof the cylinder 11 within the housing 7 and is provided with a bore 16 to receive an explosive cartridge 17 of any well known electrically controlled type. The cartridge 17 is retained in the bore 16 by a screw-threaded plug 18 abutting the cartridge as clearly shown in Figure 1 and is provided with passage to permit theelectrical conductors 19 of the cartridge to extend outwardly of the cartridge chamber 15' andwhich pass through an opening 20 in the housing 7 and one con ductori is connected to an electrical source 21 and the other conductor is connected to a switch 22 located on the counter 3. A con dutor 23 connects the switch with the other terminal of the electrical source 21 so that on closing the switch 22, the cartridge 16 willbe exposed.

A piston 24 is slidable in the cylinder and carries a stem 25 threaded at the upper end toreceive a nut 26. The nut 26 is slotted and has arranged on opposite sides of the slot spaced cars 27 engaging opposite faces of the shield or panel {1 and are secured thereto by bolts 28. ,The panel or shield is slotted in- 25 located therein.

wardly from its lower edge with the inner wall of the slot fitting in the notch of the nut 26 and between the ears 27. An outer cylinder 29 is welded or otherwise secured in the slot of the panel or shield 4L and has the stem The lower end of the outer cylinder 29 slidably engages a coupling sleeve 30 threaded to the upper end of the cylinder 11. The upper end of the coupling 30 is closed by a nut 31 through which the stem 25 slides and retains in the coupling acushion block or washer 32 adapted to act as a cushion for the upward movement of the piston 24.

Washers 33 are mounted on the stem 25 and engage the wall of the outer cylinder 29. A.

cushion washer 34 is mounted on the cylinder 11 against the nut 14 and is adapted to form a cushion for the outer cylinder when in its lowermost position as shown in Figure 2.

Brackets 35 are secured to the counter 3 and carry spring pressed, plungers 35 normally held'in retracted positions by engagement with one side face of the panel or shield 4: and when the latter is moved into a position to close the window '2, the plungers engage under the lower edge of the panel or shield and retain the same in a protecting or elevated position.

Contacts 37 are carried by the plungers 36 while contacts 38 are mounted on the brackets 35 andsaid contacts are electrically connected to an alarm and electrical source and as the plungers are normally held in aretracted position, the contacts 37 are disengaged from the contacts '38 breaking the circuit to the alarm, however, should the shield or panel move into a protecting or elevated position, the contacts 37 engage the contacts 38 and complete the circuit to, the alarm.

In operation, should the teller be molested by a burglar or bandit, the teller closes the switch 22 exploding the cartridge 17 and the expanding gases therefrom drives the piston upwardly elevating the shield or panel to a position for closing the window 2 or in a position between the teller and the bandit. As the shield moves into an elevated position,

the plungers engage the under edge thereof and retain the same in its protecting or elevated position.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A protective device fortellers windows comprising a'slidable shield normally positioned below a window and adapted to move into a position for closing the window, a piston connected to said shield, a cylinder to receive the piston, means supporting an explosive to the cylinder to act on the piston, and manually controlled means for igniting the explosive.

2. A protective device for tellers windows comprising vertical guides, a shield slidable in said guides and normally positioned below the window, a piston connected to the shield, a cylinder for the piston, means supporting an explosive to the cylinder to act on the piston for elevating the shield to a position in front of the window, and manually controlled means for igniting the explosive.

3. A protective device for tellers windows comprising a slidable shield normally positioned below a window and adapted to be moved upwardly in advance of the window and having a slot, a slotted nut engaging the wall of the slot in the shield, fastening means securing the nut to the shield, a stem secured to the nut, a piston on the stem, a cylinder receiving the piston means supporting an explosive to the cylinder to act on the piston, and manually controlled means for igniting the explosive.

4. A protective device for tellers windows comprising a slidable shield having a slot. a nut secured to the shield within the slot, a stem secured to the nut, a piston on the stem, a cylinder to receive the piston, a second cylinder secured in the slot and slidably receiving the first cylinder, means supporting an explosive to the first cylinder to act on the piston, and manually controlled means for igniting the explosive.

5. A protective device for tellers windows comprising a slidable shield, a stem secured to the shield, a piston on the stem, a cylinder to receive the piston, a coupling carried by the cvlinder. a cushion means carried by the coupling to be engaged by the piston on its upward movement, means supporting an explosive to the cylinder to act on the piston, and manually controlled means for igniting the explosive.

6. A protective device for tellers windows comprising a slidable shield astem connected to the shield, a piston on the stem. a cvlinder to receive the piston, a coupling carried by the cylinder, a cushion means in the coupling for cushioning the upward movement of the piston, a second cylinder secured to the shield with a stem therein and slidable over the first cylinder, means supporting an explosive to the first cylinder to act on the piston, and manually controlled means for igniting the explosive.

7. A protective device for tellers windows comprising a slidable shield, a piston secured to the shield, a cylinder receiving the piston, a housing for supporting the cylinder, means carried by the cylinder and arranged within the housing for supporting an explosive to act on the piston, and means for igniting the explosive.

8. A protective device for tellers windows comprising a slidable shield, a piston secured to the shield, a cylinder for the piston, a cartridge holder associated with the cylinder, an electrically actuated explosive cartridge in said chamber, and electrical means for igniting the cartridge.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

MATTHEW NICHOLAS. ANDREW KOLLER. CARL LEDEL. CHARLES HUSSEY. 

